Help us grow, spread the love, share this post:
What makes a human? That can be answered in myriad ways:
— A soul within a body.
— 37 trillion cells (plus 40 trillion bacteria).
— The quality of our relationships.
At this moment, our simple reply is:
— Water.
That is a fair assertion, for most know we are 60-70% water by volume. But few know that we are 99% water by number of molecules!
Contemplative Exercise 1
Experience how you feel and shift internally as you repeat the statement:
I am water. I am water. I am water…
The 道德經 Dao De Jing states:
上善若水
Shàng shàn rùo shǔi
Superior good is like water.
善 Shàn can also be translated as “virtue, benevolence, kindness, charity, aptitude”.
What can we learn from water as our exemplar?
Let us become students of water. What can its ways teach us?
Polarity: Water is a dipole with a relative positive (hydrogen side) and negative (oxygen side) charge.
Inquiry: How do you acknowledge and balance your dualities?
Adaptability: Water has no shape and can evolve to current conditions and any container.
Inquiry: How flexible are you, especially in unexpected situations?
Transparency: Water has no color because it allows visible light through without absorption.
Inquiry: In what ways are you an open book versus a black box?
Capacity: Water has a high specific heat, which is the amount of energy required to raise its temperature.
Inquiry: What is your tolerance of stimulation, pressure, and input?
Humility: Water always goes with gravity to the lowest place closest to earth (humus).
Inquiry: Are you more floating up in your head or grounded down in your gut?
Solution: Water is known as the universal solvent because it can dissolve almost any substance.
Inquiry: What harmful or beneficial influences do you allow in or keep out?
Conductivity: Water without solutes is an insulator but with solutes is a conductor of electricity.
Inquiry: How well does energy (including every emotion) move through you?
Viscosity: Water has low resistance and can easily flow without friction.
Inquiry: When do you hold on tightly or let go lightly?
Simultaneity: Water is the only substance that exists as solid, liquid, and gas on our planetary temperature and pressure range.
Inquiry: Do you move well among your various roles, responsibilities, and identities?
Delocalization: In confined spaces, water molecules can exist in multiple positions via quantum tunneling.
Inquiry: Can you hold multiple opinions, perspectives, realities in mind?
Contemplative Exercise 2
What aspects of water do you want to infuse into your life?
Hope you enjoyed this watering of wisdom! May it hydrate your blessings, buoy your burdens, and flourish your being.
If you received insight or inspiration from my creative offerings and want to reciprocate Qi, any amount of support would be profoundly appreciated:
Venmo: @paulcwang
Zelle: info@daocenter.com
Join a beautiful afternoon of art, music, culture, wellness, community. Enjoy a series of “Daologues” (think TED Talks but deeper) by inspiring humans who walk their talk at Dao Arts Center, 1471 Solano Ave, Albany, CA on Saturday, April 4, 2-6pm:
Dao of Self-Care Cultivation sessions broadcast via Zoom every second Sunday per month, 9-10:30am PST.
Navigate chaos, dissolve blockages, nourish wellness, actualize potential. Receive living wisdom based on applications of Chinese medicine, philosophy, cosmology, astrology, alchemy, meditation:
Timing is everything. There is a reason why things happen when and as they do. But how it all fits together may seem unclear to you at the moment. Dao Astrology helps you navigate the flow of meaning in your life. From your birth — year, month, day, time, place — we can assess your unique strengths and primary weaknesses. Discover the people, activities, environments, and careers that are more or less suitable for you:
Feel free to email info@daocenter.com with any of your questions.
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.